[New aspects of surgical treatment of radiation ulcers of the trunk (myocutaneous flaps)].

Radioulcera of the trunk appear very often in combination with an osteonecrosis or osteomyelitis of the ribs or the sternum. The surgical procedures are very much restricted by the high radiation stress of tissue and the severe chronic infection. The treatment with the common flaps and skin grafts is very long lasting and disappointing because of the extremely difficult wound healing. The surgical therapy has been essentially improved by the myocutaneous flaps. In the last three years 52 patients with severe and big ulcera of the trunk were successfully treated with the myocutaneous flaps. This procedure proved to be very worthwhile.